Brake structure



May 30, 1944.

C. HOLLERITH BRAKE STRUCTURE FiledMay 24, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mmEHARLEE HULLERITH May 30, 1944. c, HOLLERITH 2,350,038

. BRAKE STRUCTURE Filed May 24, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F194 3% gwwvif May30, 1944. c. HOLLERITH BRAKE STRUCTURE Filed May 24, 1939 .4Sheets-Sheet 3 CHARL. E5 HDLLERITH May 30,1944.

C. HOLLE RITH BRAKE STRUCTURE Filed May 24, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented May 30, 1944 UNITED-STATES PATENT o Pr ce BRAKE s'rnuc'ruaa.

01 m: Hollerith, Jackson, Mich assignor to Hayes Industries, Inc.,Jackson, Mich, a. cor

poration of Michigan Application May 24,1939, Serial No. 275,355 1;:Claims. (01. lass-J52) The present invention relates to brake mechanism,being particularly concerned with brakes for the landinggear ofairplanes. The principics of the invention, however, having generalapplication in the field of brake mechanism.

It is one of the objects'of the present invention to reduce the cost andsimplify the manufacture of brakes by a design in which sheet metalstampings replace cast parts requiring expensive ma chining. operation.

tion is not limited to airplane wheels nor restricted to expander tubeactuated brakes.

Referring to Fig. 1, the axle III of the landing gear l2 gives rotatablesupport to the wheel it having a brake drum I 6. The form of my improvedbrake structure illustrated comprises a rigid torque plate i8 shown asof cast constructlonwith a T-shapedrim' flange 20. Bolts 22 Anotherobject is to provide a brake mechanism of the expanded tube type inwhich the means of assembling the brake element and retraction springshas beenmaterially simplified.

Another object resides in providing a brake removably secure the torqueplate 18 to the torque flange .24 of thedanding gear, The dual brakeshown hastwo channel parts 26 and 28 fabricatedfrom sheet metal. Asshown the parts a 26 and 28 comprise similar stampings 30 and 32,-

mechanism in which stamped parts forming the Fig. 1 is a partialvertical cross-sectional view 30 of a landing geai' embodyingconstruction, I

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the brake mechanism shown in Fig. lremoved from the my improved brake torque flange,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line III-J11 of Fig. 2 showingthe brake element and retractor spring assembly,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary planview of the brake element and retractorspring assembly,

collectively defining webs 34 and radial flanges 38. Bolts 38 secure thechannel parts 26 and 28 to the rim flange 20. The expander tubes 40radially'urge the brake blocks 42 into contact with the brake drum It atthetime fluid pressure is directed through the distributor 44 andconduits -46 communicating with the interior of the tubes 1 40. Afairing 48 encases the outside of the brake assembly, being convenientlysupported between the plate It and the flange 24.1

As more clearlyshown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the spaced radial rims 50 ofthe channels 26 and 28 are formed with indentations 52'which lock thebrake blocks 42 against circumferential movement. Referring morespecifically to Fig. 4, the brake blocks 42 having shoulder portions 54which abut the right angle shoulder 58 of the indentation 52. Each endof each brake block 42has a tongue portion 58 which is channeled at illto receive springs 62. The webs 64 of each. indentation 52 are slottedat 68 to receive the opposite ends of the springs 62. As shown in Fig. 3the ends of each spring 62 are turned up at 68 to prevent axialdisplacement of the" spring 62 which is bowed when unstressed'andfunctions in the channels 80 of the adjacent brake block 42 to Fig. 5 isa view similar to Fig. 1 of a single unit brake,

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of the construction shown in Fig. 5 asviewed from thelright,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modified form of thedual brake co'nstruction shown in Fig. .1 showing a method of removaland insertion of retraotor springs, and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line vm-vm of Fig. 4.

In order that the principles of the present invention may be fullyunderstood, its application .to three different brakeinechanismsprimarily designed for airplane wheels is herein shown. It isto be understood, however, that the inYenretract the same followingoutward radial movement following inflation of the tube 40. Prefv erablythe radial width of the opposed channels 60,.which collectively providethe slots for the springs 82, is substantially the same as the radialwidth of the slots 68 with the dimension of the' turned ends 68 of thesprings slightly less than the radial width of both the channels and theslots 86. This arrangement enables the springs 62 to be inserted by anendwise movement with the brake block 42 in position on the rims 30 and32. It will be understood that the springs 82 hold the brake block 42 tothe rims 30 and 32 in addition to retracting the same to provideclearance with the brake drum following the radial displacement thattakes place when drawal.

the expander tubes 40 are inflated. As more clearly shown in Fig. 8, thespring 62 has clear ance at the sides with the channel Bil to avoid thepossibility of the thrust upon the brake block being taken through thespring $2.

In Fig. 5, the principles 0f the invention are shown in connection witha single unit brake. As shown the torque plate and brake block retainingrim are integrally fabricated from a pair of sheet metal stampings inlieu of the multi-part construction of Fig. 1. Referring to thedrawings, the central portion of the torque plate 18 comprises threeseparate sheet metal stampings, one stamping being that of the fairingl8, and the others the stamped parts 80 and 82 which collectively definethe channeled rim 84 in which the assembled as heretofore described. Theparts 0' land 82 are bolted together at 90. All three stampingsarebolted at 92 to the torque flange SI of the landing gear and whensoconnected collectively provide a rigid torque plate. To facilitate theinflation and deflation of thetube 88 ,a pair of distributorsilfi areshown in Fig. 6 as diametrically located with a conduit 98 fordistributing the fluid entering and exhausting through the commonconnection 100. This arrangement enhances the rapidity of operation ofthe brakes.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the 4 assaoss with the fairingsolely constituting the. torque plate for the brake mechanism.

2. An expanded tube brake structure comprising a radially outwardopening channel shaped rim in which the expanded tube and radiallyactuated brake elements are assembled, said ri.m being fabricated from apair of sheet metal members, each member having a radial flangeconstituting one side of the channel and a portion angularly disposedthereto which forms, with a similar portion of theothe'r of saidmembers, the

wardly indented at equally spaced opposed points therealong to provideindentation having shoulder portions within the channel inwardly spaced,

from said flanges and angularly 'disposed thereto, aligned openings inopposed indentations, re-

- tractor springs having their ends anchored in said openings, and brakeblocks disposed in said rim and having endwise abutting engagement withsaid indentations, said springs overlying portions of said blobks,adjacent the ends thereof.

3. In a brake structure, a brake .block supporting structure including arim having spaced radial flange, portions, radially, actuated brakeblocks disposed between said flanges and guided thereby, opposedopenings defined at spaced points along said flange portions, springmetal strips for retracting the brake block having opposite endsextending through said openings, said stripe at their outer end havingoffset portions which engage with said flanges at one side of saidopenings to hold said-strips against lengthwise converging towardthe'center line of the assembly to form the laminated torque plate "18which is bolted to the torque flange of the landing gear in the mannershown in Fig. 1, together with the fairing H 0. To lighten theconstruction, circumferentially spaced openings- I 12 are provided.

In Fig. '7, in dotted line representation, tools I I4 and H6 are shownused in a manner to'insert and remove the retractor springs 62. The toolH4 has a stepped nose portion H8 which enables the end of the spring 62to be depressed to clear the web 64 of the depression 52 and then to bemoved endwise to the right through the slot 66 into. the channels Bll.This will project the opposite end of the spring 62 where it may beconveniently acted upon to complete the with- Thetool I I6 at its endI20 is sufficiently thin to be projected between the opposed ends 68 ofthe partially inserted spring 62 shown drawdisplacement, 'said blockshaving a surface thereof in substantial alignment with said opposedopenings with which said spring strips engage intermediate their endstourge the brake block radially inward, the depth of said openings andthe clearance about said surface of. said block being greater than thecorresponding dimension of said spring strips and offset portionswhereby said spring strips may be inserted and withdrawn with the brakeblock in assembledrelation on'said define a transverse slot,corresponding opposed ing the same into the full line position shownthrough movement to the right. The ability to insert and remove thespring 62 as just described enables the brake blocks to be removed andreplaced without disassembly or alteration of the brake block supportingstructure or removal of the fairing H0. I

Having described my invention, what I desire to protect by LettersPatentand claim is:

1. In a brake mechanism, a multi-part sheet porting rim, said fairingand members having metal torque plate comprising ajfairing and a slotsdefined in said flanges aligned with said first slot, an arcuate springmetal strip disposed .insaid first slot with its ends projected throughsaid second slots, said strip having its ends deformed to preventlengthwise displacement of the strip from said slot with said strip inarcuate form, the overa1i'.radial dimension of said strip being lessthancorresponding dimension of said .slots' whereby said strip may beinsertedand removed'from said slots upon being substantially flattened.

5. In a brake construction, a circular rim part.

arcuate brake blocks adapted to be assembled I and radially actuatedupon said rim, and removable transverse retractor springs directlyconnected to said. rim and directly acting between the said rim andblocks, said springs constituting the sole assemblingmeans for saidblock upon said rim, said rim having transverse openings for the removaland insertion of said springs without d sassembling saidrim.

spring, said spring having sumcient clearance in said openings to enabledisengagement of said engaging portions upon predeterminedspringdefiection :forv endwise removal.

7. In a brake construction, acircular rim part for the supporting andpositioning of a plurality oi arcuate brake elements, fixed points ofanchorage along said rim part upon opposite sides of the supportingbrake element between which the same are radially moved, a retractorspring gverlying a portion of said brake element and connected to saidpoint oi. anchorage and constituting the soleassembling means for saidbrake element upon said rim, said spring being moved e-siwise forinsertion and removal relative to the aforesaid structure whereby saidbrake element may be removed and replaced without altering ordisassembling said rim part.

8. In a brake construction, a pairof laterally spaced channel shapedrims or sheet metal for supporting the brake'elements and having in-,wardly extending attachment portions, and -a common torque structurefor said pair of rims,

ment'and having central web portions in juxtaposition, the central websoi at least one of said rim parts being ofiset sufliciently to enableall the web portion to be in juxtaposition" to collectively define atorque plate.

10. A brake structure of stamped sheet metal construction comprising achannel shaped rim part for supporting the brake shoe and a'torquetransmitting two-ply web, said rim part and web consisting solely of twostampings secured together into a unit, said part beingcollectivelyformed by L-shaped portions of'said stampings,

said two-ply web being formed from radia1 portions of said stampings indirect back to back relation, means securing said stampings together asa unit adjacent said rim part, and mounting v structure for connectingsaid torque web to a said structure-having a central radial web por-i 88tion and an outer rim.portion, said outer rim portion having a widthapproximating that of said rims, said first rims being piloted upon saidouter rims, and means for connecting said inwardly extending portions ofsaid'first rims to' opposite sides of said torque structure outer rim.9. In a brake construction, a pair 01' brake elements supporting rimparts, each or said parts being from two sheet metal portions shaped attheir outerperiphery to receive the brake ale-' supporting structuresubstantially spaced inwardly from said means.

11. In a brake construction, a pair of sheet metal stampingscollectively defining a circular channel shaped rim part for the brakeelement and a torque transmitting plate for attachment to thetorque'flange of a vehicle frame, the rim.

defining portions of said stampings being com plementary in shape, thetorque plate defining portions of said stampings being shaped for backto back association to form a two-ply plate extending inwardly from thecentral part of said rim to a center attachment portion substantiallyspaced from said rim part, ,and means securing said stampings togetheras a unit adjacent said rim part.

' 12. In a brake construction, a circular rim part, arcuate brake blocksadapted to be assembled and radially actuated upon said rim, removableretractor springs directly connected to side portions of said rim andacting upon said blocks, said springs constituting the sole assemblingmeans. for said block upon said rim,' and openings in-said side portionsfor the transverse insertion and removal of said springs withoutdisassembling said rim.

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